Boise State QB Moore poses problems for UGA

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper was discussing some of the available quarterbacks leading up to the 2011 NFL draft when he was asked about one who wasn't, Boise State's Kellen Moore.

"He's like the Danny Wuerffels or the Ty Detmers of the world," Kiper said. "He's a great college quarterback, but size and arm strength are going to be an issue. He's undersized and he doesn't have the big-time arm, and I see him at best as a late-round pick in next year's draft.

"It's great for Boise State, because he's going to stay all four years."

And it may not so great for Georgia, which is first up for Moore this season when the No. 19 Bulldogs and No. 5 Broncos collide Sept. 3 in Atlanta.

The 6-foot, 191-pounder may not possess everything the NFL desires, but he enters his redshirt senior year as the nation's active leader in career passing efficiency (166.74) and with a 38-2 record as a starter. Among his victims have been Oregon on two occasions, Oregon State, TCU and Virginia Tech. The Hokies succumbed in last season's opener.

"If we make any mistakes in our coverage or take one false step, that pass is going to be completed unless the receiver drops it," Georgia junior defensive back Sanders Commings said this past week. "This guy is deadly with his arm and can make every pass. We've been watching a lot of film on him, and you can see why he's a Heisman candidate."

Moore made Broncos history last season by becoming their first Heisman Trophy finalist. He completed 273 of 383 passes for 3,845 yards with 35 touchdowns and only six interceptions, and his efficiency rating of 182.63 led the nation.

Should the Broncos win eight games this season, Moore would pass former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy as the winningest signal-caller in major college history. Fewer than eight wins would be catastrophic by recent BSU standards.

McCoy (45) broke the mark set by former Georgia quarterback David Greene (42), who topped the standard set by Tennessee's Peyton Manning (39).

RED ON REDNike and Georgia released pictures Saturday morning of Georgia's uniforms for the opener. The Bulldogs will be wearing red pants and red jerseys, with the numbers in black with silver trim.The helmets are silver with a thick red stripe, and the "G" is black.When told following Saturday morning's practice that most of the reaction has been negative, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt joked, "I think that's part of the reason we're sticking it out there two weeks in advance, so everybody can get over it."Richt said he likes the uniforms, admitting that they're not traditional but that it's not a traditional game. Georgia lost the last two times it altered its uniforms -- versus Alabama in 2008 and Florida in 2009 -- but Richt said, "I think we're due."

"I think that would be very special," Moore said. "Obviously our program has had a lot of success, and I've been fortunate to play with a lot of great players."

Moore was a Rivals.com three-star prospect and was rated the No. 31 pro-style quarterback in the 2007 class, a list headed by Jimmy Clausen, Ryan Mallett and John Brantley. (UTC's B.J. Coleman was 10th that year, and Tennessee backup Matt Simms was 14th.) Oregon State and Washington State recruited Moore but did not offer a scholarship, so he picked Boise State over Idaho and Eastern Washington.

Moore graduated in May in communications and got married this summer, and he has been working for several months with youthful receivers after Titus Young and Austin Pettis were early-round draft picks.

Then there is the matter of Boise State having a new conference for which to prepare after leaving the Western Athletic for the Mountain West.

"Hopefully we'll keep up the same ability of putting up some points," Moore said.

Moore is from Prosser, Wash., which is 2,942 miles from Tampa, the home of Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. The two understandably have never met, but Murray admits he's admired from afar.

And Murray's not alone.

"He's unique," Commings said. "He's left-handed, and I haven't seen too many left-handers in the SEC. From what I've seen, he's kind of the same guy as Murray, except one is left-handed and one is right-handed. They both can throw the ball with great accuracy and can scramble when they need to."

Odds and ends

The Bulldogs practiced for two hours Saturday before going through Picture Day festivities. ... Coach Mark Richt said freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell (groin) went "live" and made some nice runs. ... Freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell did not participate because of a leg muscle injury sustained Friday.

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